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Zambia's ex-president condemns violence ahead of polls

Xinhua, March 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambian former President Kenneth Kaunda on Friday condemned the political violence that is plaguing the country ahead of the general elections scheduled for August.

Kaunda, the Father of the Nation and an icon of peace, said that stakeholders should come up with programs to encourage dialogue as a solution to conflict in order to maintain peace ahead of the elections.

Kaunda made the appeal at a ceremony to launch Pillars of Peace, a peace-promoting organization, of which he is the patron, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation reported.

He called on supporters of various political parties to desist from engaging in political violence, saying elections should be held in a respectable and peaceful environment for the betterment of the country.

Political tensions are running high as Zambia will hold tripartite elections on Aug. 11 to choose a president, lawmakers and councilors.

Incumbent President Edgar Lungu of the governing Patriotic Front (PF) party seeks to get a full five-year term after winning a presidential election in January 2015 which was called after the death of President Michael Sata.

He faces a challenge from main opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development. Endi